Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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magnolia port wine hedge

Transform your garden with the timeless elegance and fragrance of a magnolia port wine hedge. This unique and versatile hedge, featuring the rich-hued blossoms and glossy foliage of the magnolia port wine variety, is perfect for creating privacy, shelter, and year-round beauty in New Zealand landscapes. Whether you’re seeking a formal boundary or a lush screen, a magnolia port wine hedge offers outstanding performance and charm suited to modern gardens with classic appeal.

Michelia figo (Portwine Magnolia)

Michelia figo, commonly known as the Port Wine Magnolia, is a compact evergreen tree prized for its delightfully fragrant, cream-white flowers and glossy foliage. Ideal for hedging, screening, or as a specimen tree, it brings year-round beauty and subtle perfume to New Zealand gardens. This hardy and low-maintenance plant thrives in well-drained soil and adds elegance to both formal and informal landscapes.

Buy Michelia figo (Portwine Magnolia)

From $33.68

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Trees

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Winter

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Magnolia Kay Parris (Magnolia grandiflora Kay Parris)

Magnolia grandiflora Kay Parris, commonly known as Southern Magnolia or Evergreen Magnolia, is a small tree that produces masses of large and showy, white flowers through late spring and summer. The fragrant flowers are borne amidst the glossy, dark green leaves which serve as a lovely backdrop. It grows with a rounded habit to about 4 m tall and 3 m wide and responds well to trimming. Magnolia Kay Parris makes for a lovely specimen and is commonly added to a mixed planting, planted around outdoor living areas, used as a backdrop for smaller plants, or grown as a hedge.

Buy Magnolia Kay Parris (Magnolia grandiflora Kay Parris)

From $343.89

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Trees

Height: 4.00 m

Spread: 3.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Garden uses: Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, White

Why Choose Magnolia Port Wine for Hedges?

The magnolia port wine hedge is highly sought after for several reasons. Its dense, evergreen leaves make it an ideal choice for privacy and wind protection, while the intoxicating port-wine coloured blooms provide a delightful scent from late spring through summer. The lush foliage offers a rich backdrop for other garden plants, and the hedge naturally forms a dense, upright shape with minimal pruning.

Port wine magnolias are adaptable, tolerating a range of soil types and thriving in both sun and partial shade. Their slow to moderate growth means you can easily shape and maintain your hedge, keeping it neat and tailored to your space.

Magnolia Port Wine Hedge Features

Evergreen structure for year-round privacy
Fragrant port-wine coloured flowers
Glossy, deep green leaves
Moderate growth, easy to maintain
Tolerant of pruning and shaping
Resistant to pests and disease

For more information about the parent plant, see Michelia figo (Portwine Magnolia), which is the most reliable option for creating a stunning magnolia port wine hedge in Kiwi gardens.

Planting & Care Tips

To establish a magnificent magnolia port wine hedge, plant your saplings 80–150cm apart, depending on how quickly you’d like a dense screen. Water regularly during the first year, then reduce frequency as the hedge becomes established. Mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds; feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring to encourage lush growth and abundant flowering.

Prune annually after flowering to maintain the desired height and shape—port wine magnolias respond well to gentle trimming, helping your hedge stay neat and bushy.

Magnolia Hedge Alternatives

Looking for a different evergreen magnolia hedge or companion plant? Explore these outstanding options for NZ gardens:

Magnolia Kay Parris (Magnolia grandiflora Kay Parris) for broad leaves and large flowers
Magnolia Jade Emperor (Evergreen Magnolia Jade Emperor) for robust foliage and stunning white blooms
Magnolia Old Port—another beautiful variety with deep, wine-coloured flowers
Magnolia grandiflora Little Gem for compact size and profuse blooms

Each of these evergreen magnolia cultivars can be used as a hedge, border, or stunning specimen, offering enduring performance and striking visual appeal.

Enhance Your Garden with Magnolia Port Wine Hedge

A magnolia port wine hedge isn’t just a beautiful boundary—it’s a living investment in your landscape’s privacy, fragrance, and style. Discover the pleasure of silky-smooth leaves, heady floral scents, and consistent performance by choosing the right magnolia for your hedge. Browse our selection and experience the rewards of nurturing this classic Kiwi garden favourite.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.